GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
Professor: Claire B. Steinberger
Course Code: SSY101.1939
Assignment: Midterm Exam
Name: Astrid N. Avalos-Rosales
Submitted: April 18, 2008
I. The Science of Psychology
a. Contrast the “scientific attitude” with the “scientific method”.
The scientific attitude is the way that we think. It helps us to examine
assumptions, and evaluate evidence to get a conclusion; I mean that it helps us
to develop a critical thinking. In the other hand, the scientific method is the way
that we do things. It is a process in which Scientifics ask questions and observe
nature answers.
b. Describe the main aspects of the scientific method.
The main aspects of the scientific method are:
 Theory: the one who explain behaviors or events through an integrated set
of principles that organize and predict observations.
 Hypothesis: A prediction that is implied in the theory.
 Research and Observation: the hypothesis enables us to test and reject,
or revise the theory. The research strategies include descriptive,
correlational and experimental method that would help us to get our
conclusions.
c. Design a study of human interest employing the scientific method.
I am going to develop an experiment to prove that eating grapefruit increase the
possibility of having an acid reflux disease.
 Groups: I would select 60 persons and divide them in three groups
 Group Age: Adults from 50 to 70 years old with acid reflux disease for at
least two years.
 Duration: the experiment would be conducted for two weeks.
 Experiment:
First, I would set same diets to the three groups.
Second, I would set the amount of grapefruit that the people would eat.
Group 1 would eat a grapefruit daily that means a total of 14 grapefruits
during the experiment. Group 2 would eat a grapefruit each every day that
means a total of 7 grapefruits during the experiment. Group 3 would eat
no grapefruit during the experiment.
After the experiment we would be able to determinate the results and
prove if our theory is accurate.
II. Neuropsychology
a. How does information flow in the human body?
Information flows in the human body through our nervous system, which is build
from interconnected cells called neurons.
 First, information is received by the dendrites fibers, branching extensions
of the neurons, which conduct impulses toward the cell body.
 After that, the neuron generates an impulse or electrical charge, called
action potential, the one who travels down the axon fibers.
 The axon fibers, extension of the neurons, pass the information along to
other neurons or to muscles or glands.
b. What are the parts of the Nervous System?
The parts of the Nervous System are the central nervous system (CNS) and the
peripheral nervous system (PNS).
 The central nervous system is formed by the brain, which enable memory,
emotion, movements, our perceiving, thinking, and speaking, and by the
spinal cord, which is an information highway between the brain and the
peripheral nervous system.
 The peripheral nervous system is divided in the somatic nervous system
that controls the voluntary movements of the body’s skeletal muscles, and
the autonomic nervous system that controls involuntary/self-regulated
actions of internal organs and gland. For instance, if you raise your hand
that is a voluntary movement that would be controlled by the somatic
nervous system, while the beating of your heart is an involuntary action
controlled by the autonomic nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system is divided in two systems: The
sympathetic nervous system, the one who arouses us for defensive action
mobilizing our energy in stressful situations, and the parasympathetic
nervous system that calms the body conserving its energy.
c. What is the role of the neurotransmitters?
The neurotransmitters, that are chemical messengers that travel across the
synaptic gap between neurons, influence the generation of a neural impulse in
the recipient neuron. Also, the neurotransmitters influence our motions and
emotions.
For instance, the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine (ACh) enables the muscle
action, learning and memory. Undersupply is linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and
learning and memory problems as we saw in the video “The Behaving Brain”. In
the video, scientist made a experiment with two groups of rats, one group with a
normal supply of ACh, and another with undersupply of it. They place rats in a
sink, full of water with a small platform in the middle. Scientist observed that the
rats with undersupply of ACh took longer time to find and to remember where the
platform was.
d. How is the brain organized? What functions are performed?
The human brain is organized in the Lower-Level Brain Structure and in the
Cerebral Cortex.
The Lower Brain Structure includes:
 The Brainstem, which is responsible for automatic survival functions. It
begins where the spinal cord enters to the skull and swells to form the
medulla, the one that is responsible of controls heartbeat and breathing.
 On top of the Brainstem is located the Thalamus, called the brain sensory
switchboard because it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in
the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
 The cerebellum, attached to the rear of the brainstem, helps to coordinate
voluntary movement and balance.
 The limbic system, which is related to memory, emotion and movements,
is located between the brainstem and the cerebral cortex. The limbic
system includes the hippocampus, the amygdale that influences emotions
of aggression and fear, and the hypothalamus that helps to control several
maintenance activities, such as eating. It also control the endocrine
system
The Cerebral Cortex is the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cell that
covers the cerebral hemispheres. It is known as the ultimate control and
information processing center of our body. It is divided in:
 Frontal lobe, that is located behind the forehead, is involved in the muscle
movements, in making plans and judgments, and in speaking.
 Parietal lobe, that is located at the top of the head toward the rear,
includes the sensory cortex the one who registers and process body
sensations.
 Occipital lobe, that is located lying at the back of the head, includes the
visual areas.
 Temporal lobes, that are located lying above the ears, include the auditory
areas.
e. What parts of the brain are unique to the functioning of human beings?
The part that of the brain that is unique to functioning of human beings is the
cerebral cortex, in special the association area. Through this area, we, humans
are to perform higher mental function, such as, speaking, learning, remembering
and thinking.